Distillations from The United Methodist Church
...by Reverand Nate Nims
In June, the Des Moines Register shared a Des Moines Register story by F. Amanda Tugade about divisions within The United Methodist Church. Since then, the article was shared in print on the first page and has circulated as click bate for subscribers only. This article, like most stories about The United Methodist Church, spoke to, without speaking, the need for a new narrative from The UMC.
While there were quotes for inclusion, welcome, and grace from Rev. Greg Neal and Rev. Jordan Derhammer-Capek, most of the quotes and focus of the article were on disaffiliation and the exclusion of LGBTQIA+ persons from churches leaving The UMC. This loud and vocal minority of The UMC has dictated the narrative of our church for far too long, and even as they exit, they continue to amplify a message that too many, myself included, don’t think sounds like Christ. Both within and beyond The United Methodist Church, exclusion, bigotry, and LGBTQIA+ panic have been the noisy gong and clanging cymbal causing a cacophony of ecclesial exits, disaffiliations, and legislative cruelty. How many churches give their members explicit, or even implicit, permission to “hate the sin,” also known as the lives, loves, joys, hopes, and existence of LGBTQIA+ persons? This so-called hatred of sin fuels the fires of book bans, bathroom bills, banning gender-affirming care, and forced outing. This so-called hatred of sin perpetuates the stigmatizing and mistreatment of LGBTQIA+ youth, making them nearly four times as likely as their heterosexual peers to attempt suicide.
Disaffiliating congregations may say that they grieve this epidemic loss of life and that they want to provide a safe space and caring community for children and youth; they may say that they love and welcome all, but what does that welcome look like? Are LGBTQIA+ persons welcome to be members? Can they volunteer? Could they help in the nursery or be a chaperone on the youth mission trip? Since these congregations will not host or officiate weddings of LGBTQIA+ couples, are couples allowed to attend Sunday services together, or do they have to pretend to be roommates?
Disaffiliating churches make it clear that they do not welcome LGBTQIA+ clergy, but what about other staff positions? Could an LGBTQIA+ person be the custodian? Can they clean the communion table where they are not welcome?
At the Capital City Pride Parade, six metro United Methodist Churches were represented (Walnut Hills, West Des Moines, Des Moines First, Grace, Ames Collegiate, and Indianola First) as Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai cheered us on from the crowd. While the biblical interpretations of disaffiliating churches may be the focus of the news, those of us that remain United Methodist are moving in new directions, marching and striving for the love, justice, and grace of Christ. As we move forward, we must seek forgiveness for the sins of our past and present.
The United Methodist Church has been, and by the language of the Book of Discipline still is, homophobic, transphobic, heterosexist, and harmful. We have held doctrinal positions that deny the sacred worth of our LGBTQIA+ kin. We have excommunicated and excluded queer clergy and members we baptized and proclaimed beloved. As our communion liturgy says, “We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done [God’s] will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors…” And yet, those of us that stay United Methodist believe that God is not done with us and there is hope for the church. We can move towards perfection in love as grace and mercy continue to unfold and abound because the kingdom of God and the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice when we come together in the movement of the spirit and as the body of Christ.
A quote often attributed to John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, speaks to the new narrative that will lead The United Methodist Church into the future:
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
May those of us that remain United Methodist embody this hope by supporting the LGBTQIA+ community and by uplifting and giving to the work of organizations like One Iowa, Iowa Safe Schools, and The Trevor Project. If you are part of a faith community, may you have the boldness and courage to ask what welcome means for your community and, if that, welcome witnesses to the justice, mercy, grace, reconciliation, and love of your faith. Those leaving the UMC can embrace their narrative of exclusion, but those of us that remain will follow the example of Christ as we seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly.
Rev. Nate Nims, Des Moines
See you in church!
Thanks for the courage to speak out with love for all.